Depakote really helped me. I was having way too many break through symptoms with just lamictal alone. Lithium I've heard has side effects but I've heard it's also one of the only bipolar drugs that actually repairs the brain as opposed to just treating the symptoms. My doctor has suggested lithium to me, I'm considering it. Depakote and stress may be making my hair thin. Which sucks but it stabilizes me so I am hesitant to switch.